Harlan Coben’s Think Twice – A Stunning, Emotional Ride

Harlan Coben fans may read his stand alone mysteries like Fool Me Once, but what they really pounce on are the ones featuring Myron Bolitar, the professional basketball star turned sports agent, and his loyal friend, Windsor “Win” Lockwood III, heir to the Locke-Horne Securities fortune. The bond between the two men is iron clad and Coben’s latest, Think Twice, shows just how far Win will go to protect Myron. Coben writes great dialogue and when Myron and Win are together the banter is terrific. And the conversations between Myron and his aging parents – “Your mother and I have discovered edibles” – are hysterical. 

When one of Myron’s former clients, Greg Downing, turns up as the suspect in a murder, two FBI agents visit his office. The agents are investigating the murders of Cecelia Callister, a former model, and her 30 year old son, Clay. Cecilia’s husband had recently been indicted on fraud charges related to his cryptocurrency startup. Myron is surprised that Downing is a suspect for one reason – he died three years ago. The agents, however, tell Myron that Greg’s DNA was found under Cecelia’s fingernails. Greg, they tell Myron, is alive.

Myron had a complicate relationship with Greg. They were basketball rivals in high school and college. A collision with an opposing player injured Myron’s knee beyond repair. He switched to law and then opened his sports agency. Greg, meanwhile, went on to a stellar pro career and then landed a prime coaching job. Myron put aside their history and took Greg on as a client. Although Greg had been fired as the coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, he was being sought after by two other pro teams. Instead, he told Myron he was burned out and soon after left the country. Three years later, Myron received word that Greg had died. His ashes were sent home and a memorial service arranged. He was at Greg’s funeral. Now the idea that he is still alive is shocking. Are they right? Did Greg fake his death? Why? And why would he kill the Callisters? 

Myron was Greg’s agent, but Win managed his money. Before Greg took off, he had Win transfer his money to offshore accounts. If Greg isn’t dead, he’s still a client and Myron, despite their past history, feels an obligation to help Greg. What that means is opening old wounds. In college, Myron had a relationship with Emily, who went on to marry Greg and then divorced him. They have one son, Jeremy, who is in the military and stationed overseas. What Greg doesn’t know, however, is that Myron is Jeremy’s biological father. 

As often happens when Myron begins investigating a murder, he attracts the wrong kind of attention. When associates of “Joey the Toe” – a nickname given because he likes to snip off adversaries little toes – abduct Myron, Win quickly dispatches them. But it’s clear that someone doesn’t want Greg found.

Coben’s plots are never straightforward and the one he creates in Think Twice is no exception. There are red herrings, dead ends, dead bodies, lots of suspects until the finale, which will have Coben fans holding their breath and, yes, even shedding a few tears.

This Myron-Win latest is Coben at this best. Don’t think twice before picking it up.

Think Twice
Harlan Coben

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